'Science & Tech News' Category Archives

Earlier this year, scientists were unveiling the first, stable semi-synthetic life form. In a paper published today, another research group reports enabling their spawn to read and use the synthetic genetic data, creating compounds entirely new to biological systems. Image credits Colin Behrens. This year started off with a bang for everyone even remotely interested […]

Scientists at Northwestern University have used a high-energy particle accelerator for the first time to peer inside a mummy. The Egyptian mummy belongs to a girl that was five years old at the time of her death, about 1,900 years. Analysis revealed unique details about the girl and burial process, such the quality of her […]

A specimen of the new species, Mariana snailfish. Mackenzie Gerringer/University of Washington. Miles below the surface of the Mariana Trench, marine life looks totally different from what most people are used to. Instead of big or menacing, the creatures that roam the deepest parts of the ocean are quite small, translucent, and scaleless. At such […]

Swedish company Plantagon is tackling the world’s food problems through ‘agritecture’, a combination of architecture, technology, and agriculture. The first of their projects, a massive vertical greenhouse or “plantscaper”, is set to open in 2020. Artist’s concept of a plantscaper. Image via Plantagon. There are over 7.5 billion people living today, a number that’s expected […]

Credit: Imperial College London. British researchers achieved a breakthrough in biophotovoltaics (BPV) by printing electronic circuits and bacteria at the same time. The biological solar panel produce electricity both day and night, unlike conventional photovoltaic cells that are entirely reliant on sunshine. The whole device is biodegradable, making it ideal for a disposable solar cell […]

Quantum encryption supposedly offers two parties an unhackable communications channel. Like any pioneering technology still in its infancy, we’re many steps to go before common folks like your or me can get their hands on such tech. Progress in the field, however, really is fast. American researchers report a quantum leap in data transfer encrypted […]

If you have never been able to grow a full head of luscious locks, and you can’t stand the itchiness of toupées, fear not – science may have a solution for your hairy problem. Scientists at the University of California – Los Angeles Health Sciences (UCLA) have successfully managed to activate the body’s stem cells […]

The game is the same whether you live on the ground or beneath the waves. A decade-long study has found that male dolphins employ complex pick-up strategies, including offering gifts and rallying wingmen. Image credits: Mandy / Wiki Commons. Perplexing behavior The complex social behavior of dolphins never ceases to amaze me. They hang out […]

While commonly used pesticides have been shown to hurt bee populations, there may be a new development on the horizon that will simultaneously ensure the protection of honeybees and the crops that they pollinate. According to a new study that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, scientists found that […]

It was big news in 2015 when NASA declared “liquid water found in Mars.” Now, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the announcement that Mars contains large amounts of water was premature. Scientists had reasoned that water must be present on the red planet to explain mysterious darkish streaks that appeared to ebb and flow […]

‘Tis the season for the gift of science. And we’ve taken some of the work out of the holiday by rounding up the most inspired, innovative, and delightful gift ideas for anyone on your list. Maybe you’ve got a budding young scientist in your family, or you want to inspire someone in your life to […]

Goodbye, Moon. We don’t need you anymore. The Earth’s night skies are getting brighter. A study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, finds the Earth’s artificially lit outdoor areas grew by 2.2 percent per year from 2012 to 2016. Light pollution is actually worse than that, according to the German-led team of researchers. The […]